Spring break twice

We had two spring breaks this year - Mark couldn't get away from work during Audrey's school vacation, so I took the girls to my parent's house. It was a little too cold to swim, but that didn't stop Audrey, she splashed around until her lips were blue. One day we went to Soak City in Palm Springs, but the weather didn't cooperate so we were not there long - we'll go back in a month. We got my mom in a swimsuit finally so it wasn't a complete flop. We spent another day at storytime and at the park with a friend and her children. Naturally we had a lot of tacos and my favorite cochinito cookies. We came home at the end of the week and my parents followed so they could attend my choir concert. I was really nervous, but it went well, and I look forward to the fall when we start rehearsing for Christmas.

The four of us drove up to Cambria the week after. Audrey missed 5 days of school, but it's only first grade so we aren't worried. We spent a night in Santa Barbara where the highlights were the labyrinth at the church next door to our hotel, and a wonderful meal at a French restaurant that our kids enjoyed almost as much as we did, phew. We did a little window shopping, road the trolley bus, and the girls loved the hotel's "lookout" sundeck.



Next stop Pismo Beach and a few familiar sights. My grandparents ran a hotel there when I was a kid. We went to the pier and walked the beach looking for sand dollars. The kids found the swings and I know they were not the same swings I went on with my brothers and sister, but it was still fun to remember those family trips from my childhood. It was so windy the sand was skittering along the shore. Pismo Beach is where Claire hit her head so hard on the headboard she had a bleeding dent (and then a big lump) under her curls. It took awhile to comfort her, and then Audrey and then me, because we all cried.






From Pismo we went to Morro Bay with a quick stop in between when Audrey turned green and said she couldn't swallow. She was carsick but felt fine after a snack and 20 minutes at zero mph. In Morro Bay we stayed at a cute hotel with very thin walls and very loud neighbors. We hiked Morro Rock again just like last year and loved it. We waded in the tide and terrified the hermit crabs, flew our kite and had our brains blown out of our ears by the wind. The girls chased the kite's shadow around the beach. There was also a vintage emergency vehicle show going on so we checked out the old paddy wagons and fire trucks. Morro Bay is where Audrey repeated Claire's head-cracking technique on yet another hotel headboard, but there was no blood and much less crying.






Cambria was charming and a perfect final stop. We found a nice inn with a "family room" that was actually a suite. Audrey and Claire pronounced it the best hotel room we ever had. Mark and I enjoyed staying up past 9 pm. The inn ran a fire and served free hot chocolate in the lobby around the clock - a big hit for the girls. Around town there was a lot of shopping and restaurants including a candy store with just about every candy ever made where Mark and Audrey got 1/4 pound for $5. I had three pieces myself. We went to the park for picnic and play, and to the beach for walking sticks, pretty pebbles and rock climbing. The second day there we drove north and saw the elephant seal rookery, Hearst Castle in the distance (no on wanted to see it but me, so I took one for the team), ate lunch on a cliff, and then found a nice hike along a stream at Ragged Point. We got up so high I had to turn around with Claire or suffer an immediate panic attack, but Mark and Audrey went higher. We were good and tired then and headed back to Cambria. We couldn't have driven any farther if we'd wanted to - there was a rock slide between us and Monterrey. We stayed two nights in Cambria and then came home the next day.













During our trip we saw deer, peacock, harbor seals, elephant seals, hawks, and a coyote, to name a few. Just North of Santa Barbara we pulled off the highway to pick strawberries.



And pretty soon we were home. I have a thousand more pictures and so many other details to remember, but this will have to do for now. Somehow it works for us to just load up the car and take off with no reservations and barely an outline of a plan. It's always stressful keeping children safe, fed and entertained, but being away from home eliminates so many of the distractions that complicate our lives. I didn't miss the phone or Facebook. The kids didn't need their toys or the TV. Mark brought most of his electronics, but he only used them when he had to. We just soaked up each other and all the beautiful things we got to see.



And let's not forget Easter! We celebrated with Mark's mom and our friends, the Oakleys. Matching dresses and tons of candy made it an exciting pastel day.

Claire's birthday

We decided to take Claire to Knott's Berry Farm for her birthday instead of having a party. She chose all the rides and went on her favorites over and over. The carriage ride was not her favorite - the horses were too large and pungent, but we got a nice family photo with the Knott's employee we recently adopted. On the actual day of her birthday we decorated the house with streamers, balloons and decorated paper plates (Audrey was envious because on her birthday she only had posters custom-made by daddy at work with the super-sized printer and Claire got paper plates because at the last minute we forgot the customized posters and had to improvise). Claire chose her meals: pancakes for breakfast, I can't remember lunch, and Ikea meatballs for dinner. She wanted a pink three-layer cake with sprinkles and lots of presents. All her dreams came true.

4 and so much more

Claire is 4 today - our miracle baby who owes her life to her sister who was so wonderful we knew we needed another; who owes her life to her mother who was too stubborn to let a scary first pregnancy keep her from trying again; who owes her life to her father for getting up to feed her night after night for so many months; who owes her life to the people who make baguettes and 7-Up - the only two things her mother could keep down for 34 weeks.

Claire is forthright, confident, entertaining, easygoing, sensitive, and generous, to name a few. She notices other people's feelings with concern and often says exactly the right thing to comfort, cheer or encourage. Her little hands are so graceful and coordinated. Her curly hair is always a big mess and we leave it that way rather than pull on it every day. She is whimsical in her play - making wings and capes and hats out of whatever she picks up. She looks up to her sister, but also loves to tease her. When she farts she says "Pardon me!" When she makes a mistake she says "I'm sorry, it's OK, right?" She can't bear to be in trouble. Claire has a lot of nicknames: most often Clairie, bunny, missy magoo, and noodle.

Claire has a love affair with fruit, and we always worry she'll eat so much she'll give herself a stomachache but that never happens. Gone a pint of blueberries or boysenberries, a dozen strawberries, slices and slices of watermelon, and she is perfectly fine.

Claire's daily schedule is pretty boring for a little one - lots of time with a busy mom. She plays with the bubbles when I do dishes and enjoys her TV time while I do freelance work. We do get out every day whether for work or fun and she is a good companion and lunch date. She loves to go to Trader Joe's and help shop. She also loves Vietnamese pho and any variation of rice and beans. She takes a nap after lunch and when she wakes up her sister is home and the homework, dinner, bath time, bedtime routine begins. Claire can dress herself and put on her own shoes, butter her own bread - although she lays it on super thick, ride her bike with training wheels and pick up her own toys if pestered. She is also trying to write her name. Claire draws the sweetest happy faces - now with bodies that always look like they are dancing. She has been saying very long prayers since she has started going to Primary on Sundays, but she won't close her eyes and often laughs through the whole thing.

Claire likes knock knock jokes and listening to mommy practice for choir in the car. She requests her favorites and then we move on to the rest. She is eager for the first of our peas to grow so she can eat them all. Pretty soon she is going to preschool and she is definitely ready to participate in all the fun crafts and recess she has watched Audrey do for so many years. She still has a sensitive respiratory system, but is doing well and we pray and pray she has gotten over the worst of it.

Claire has a tender heart but is also easily comforted. A kiss and a hug go a long way. She wants us to be proud of her and reports her accomplishments reliably. She has a cheerful and peaceful presence and makes our home a happier place. She has gotten so tall it is hard to pretend she is still a baby, also she insists she is not a baby, but her cheeks are still nice and chubby and she sleeps in a little ball. Holding her hand is pure joy.

We love Claire so much and are trying to soak up every moment.


Claire the night she was born.

A few weeks later.

First smile - about 6 weeks later.


One year old.

Two years old.

Three years old.

Four.

Good Morning!

A couple of weeks ago I got up with the girls and instead of throwing cereal and milk at them I told them to get their shoes and coats on and come with me for an adventure. They weren't sure they wanted to leave their toys and the predictability of Saturday morning at home, but I convinced them, and we got out the door without waking up Mark. We stopped by McDonald's and bought a few McMuffins and OJ and then drove to the beach. Rain was in the forecast, but there were only a few clouds in the sky. We played tag and dug in the sand and the girls traversed the new sitting wall. The sky was such a beautiful blue and the waves were turning over like machinery - sleek and silver - and crashing so loud. You can see a few of them behind the girls. They had so much fun and maybe next time they will hop to when I say we're going out for an adventure. The rain did come and I was so glad we'd filled up on sunshine before it did.

Valentine's Day - better late than never

We went to the Los Angeles flower mart for Valentine's day and Mark bought me some gorgeous orange tulips. It was one of those days when I dressed myself and Claire exactly alike and did not notice until we had left the house. But I don't mind. After the flower mart we went to Greenblatt's - a Jewish deli we love - and stuffed our faces with pastrami and pickles (our idea of romance, I guess). Fabulous, just fabulous.